The Journey Within by Alyssa

The Journey Within by Alyssa - November 2016 Scholarship Essay

Growing up, college was always something that I looked forward to, even dreamed of. My family has always looked at me as, "the college girl," due to my persistent interest and eagerness in the process. The small town in which I call home often felt suffocating. Being surrounded by the same people each day, seeing the same things, was almost like the walls were closing in. I felt as if living in this town was holding me back from achieving everything I thought that I could. As I became older, I started to realize that what I was looking at as a misfortune, was actually something so much sweeter- it was home.

The village of Washingtonville, New York is definitely not the most known place to people living in suburban New York. As you drive though the town, the same old barber shops, pizza places, and nail salons can always be found. Since kindergarten, I have attended school with practically the exact same people each year. Rarely do I come across a new face throughout the day, week, or even month. My best friends today are people I met when I was two years old, at a daycare center in the middle of town. Although my family and friends here were extremely imperative to me, I often found myself seeking more. Each day I grew tired of experiencing the same sights, the same personalities. I wanted to see more, to do more, to be more. It became an important point in my life to get out of this town. I wanted to travel, to see things I never have, to leave this small town behind, and become someone greater. I was intrigued with the thought that to become this, I needed to let go. letting go for me, consisted of going to college. College would be the only way that I could do everything I have always wanted; meet more people, experience new ideas, see the world.

Throughout the last few years, my views on this town have definitely changed. I have learned so much living here, and only recently did I begin to understand this. Even though I was seeing the same people and same sites every day, my eyes still managed to open up to all of the world's possibilities. The peers I grew up with blossomed into the most amazing people. Right when I thought I knew everything about them, they'd turn around and do something spectacular to surprise me again. When I thought I'd seen all the places the town had to offer, I would discover someplace new, with more opportunities to grasp. Even when I thought I made all the friends I could, people I had gone to school with for years, turned out to be some of the most unique people I never truly knew. I think that growing up in this town has truly been something so special. The pure compassion and kindness that I've witnessed the past couple of years has blindsided me truly beyond belief. Whether it's the town coming together for the annual Christmas Parade, or supporting one another when a member of the community becomes ill, the sheer appreciation for each other is always so evident. The residents in this town are so much more than just the normal people I come across each day; they're family.

I am very grateful to have come across all of these realizations before I embark on my next journey in life. I look forward to making even more friends and seeing even more places, wherever I attend next fall. College has always been something that has brought me so much excitement, but in this I have learned that it is important to never forget where you come from. So, to answer your question, although college will be an amazing journey of it's own, what I will be most thankful for in this experience will be having a place to always come back to, a place to call home.